Summary. Tooth decay is Australia's most common chronic illness and is largely preventable.
Results showed that nearly one third of Australian adults had at least one tooth surface with untreated dental caries and, on average, 29.7 decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces per person. Almost 29% of adults presented with gingivitis while the overall prevalence of periodontitis was 30.1%.
1. Philippines. This island nation located in between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea takes the cake (literally and figuratively) of the worst oral health in the world. The Philippines College of Dentistry found that nearly 90 percent of Filipinos suffer from tooth decay.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare1, Australian adults have an average of 4.5 missing teeth and around 61% of people aged 75 or over have moderate or severe periodontitis.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research's Dental Caries in Permanent (Adult) Teeth stats, most Americans don't make it to adulthood without at least a few cavities, and more than 90% of adults over the age of 40 have had some form of decay in their permanent teeth.
By creating an acidic environment in your mouth, bacteria erode tooth enamel. Everyone has saliva as a natural defense against these bacteria; however, some people have enough nutrients in their saliva to remineralize the teeth enough to stop cavities in their tracks.
More than 90% of Australians have experienced decay in their permanent teeth, making dental fillings one of the most common dental procedures in the country.
Dentists are really high in demand in Australia with high salaries that make the dentistry career rewarding and shining. Dentists are earning more than AUD 150,000 and are among the highest-paid workers in Australia. This is one of the primary reasons to study dentistry in Australia.
Australia has a higher standard of care than most of the world. Dentists use quality materials which are expensive. Medicare doesn't help with the cost of dental. Running a dental practice is expensive in Australia.
According to Ripley's Believe it or Not, Frank Medina is the “oldest man in the world with all his teeth who has never had a cavity." To what does Mr. Medina attribute his dental success? Eating hard breads and beans.
1. Insufficient oral hygiene. The quickest way to welcome cavities is to slack on dental care. Not brushing or flossing regularly, and not using mouthwash or brushing your tongue will leave your teeth vulnerable to decay.
Not cleaning your teeth well, frequent snacking and sipping sugary drinks are the main culprits behind cavities. Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes.
Cavities are one of the most common health problems. Over 90% of adults in the US have had at least one cavity in their mouth. On average, adult patients have had around 3-4 cavities in their lifetime.
About dental health
Dental health statistics show that in Australia: 3 in 10 people delay or avoid seeing a dentist because of the cost. 1 in 4 children (aged 5 to 10) have untreated decay in their baby teeth. 1 in 25 people (aged 15 and over) have no natural teeth left.
Among adults aged 20 and older, about 90% have had at least one cavity. 1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 64 currently has at least one cavity.
Find out what the average Dentist salary is
The average dentist salary in Australia is $148,344 per year or $76.07 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $116,916 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $195,000 per year.
“And the current market is absolutely saturated in most places with dental practices. A lot of practices are opening up that are surprisingly quiet.” Dr Sachs says Australia graduates approximately 1,200 new dentists each year but only about 550 dentists retire in the same period.
The removal of these occupations from the SOL demonstrates the Federal Government finally acknowledges the oversupply of dentists in Australia, a notion the ADA has raised with government for several years and has demonstrated through research ever since.
However, most teeth can safely have up to three fillings. If a tooth has more than three fillings, there is a greater risk of the tooth breaking or developing problems with the nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth.
In general, adults develop an average of three cavities during their lifetimes. This means that the average adult has three or four fillings in their mouth. Some patients end up with ten or more fillings depending on how well they care for their teeth.
Getting holes filled might require ten minutes to 1 hour per tooth, depending on the size of the cavity and its location. In some cases, you might even need two appointments with the dentist near you to fill the hole in your tooth, especially if tooth decay removal compromises the integrity of the tooth.
Young adults (20-39 years old)
Depending on oral health and prior dental care, the number of fillings in young adults can vary greatly. However, the frequency of cavity fillings for young adults is typically between 4 and 8.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), kids ages 2-11, on average, have 1.6 decayed baby teeth – with older kids ages 12-19 having, on average, 0.45 permanent teeth with tooth decay.
Few people make it through life without at least one cavity. Cavities are the result of tooth decay, and everyone is at some risk. Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize your risk.